Update Motorola Droid Razr with CM11 M8 Android 4.4.4 KitKat Firmware

With snapshot M8 built of CM 11 released you can now choose to update your Android smartphone or tablet to custom and stable Android 4.4.4 KitKat firmware. While this highly appreciated custom ROM is available for various high end devices, you should know that the same software is being supported by mid range handsets too. In that matter, during the following guidelines we will be checking on how to flash CM 11 M8 on Motorola Droid Razr, so if you own the mentioned phone and want to improve its performances, don’t hesitate and check the lines from below.

CyanogenMod is as you might already know one of the best custom ROMs (along with AOKP and ParanoidAndroid) developed for the Android system. The best is that CyanogenMod is compatible with almost all the smartphones and tablets out there; but why to update your handset with this firmware? Well, basically because with this ROM your phone will run faster and better. Thus, by flashing CM 11 M8 on your Motorola Droid Razr you will be able to improve the performances of your device and to customize its looks.

In that matter, the latest release of CM11 comes with great features that cannot be found on the default version of Android 4.4.4 KitKat system. These features, along with other dedicated apps and capabilities will customize and optimize your Motorola Droid Razr and you will be able to receive more power from your phone, while your device will be running faster and while the battery life will last longer. The best is that CM 11 M8 is a stable ROM that runs without lags, bugs, force close errors and without any other problems, so you will be able to experience a smooth Android 4.4.4 KitKat OS on your own Droid Razr (as we all know, the Razr will no longer receive official updates).

But, in order to make things clearer, we must say once more that CM 11 M8 is a custom ROM and not an official Android OS. In fact, CyanogenMod represents a free aftermarket release of Android 4.4.4 KitKat OS, so the same has nothing to do with Motorola. These aspects are extremely important as due to same reasons, by completing this guide, the warranty of your Droid Razr will get void. This is an unofficial update operation, so be careful in what you apply and also try not to mess things up as you can even end up in soft bricking your Android device (if something bad happens, learn how to resolve most common Android issues with ease).

Moreover, a custom ROM can be installed only in some conditions. Therefore, before heading to the proper steps from below, check the following list of tasks. There I have described how to prepare your Droid Razr for the flashing operation, how to ensure that everything will go as planned and also how to protect your data – don’t skip this section as it is the most relevant one.

After gaining root access install a custom recovery image (use the latest version of CWM or TWRP recovery) on your phone – the ROM will be installed by using this recovery image, so it is essential to flash it on your handset.

Do note that these are unofficial procedures, so find compatible tutorials for your Droid Razr, or else you might have problems.

Backup your data because, at some point, a wipe will be performed and everything you have on the internal storage of your device will be erased.

For the backup you can use backup and restore apps from Google Play in order to save your personal data, info and accounts along with your contacts list, text messages, call logs, market apps, internet settings and so on. Also, you can use the custom recovery image for saving the current ROM (via Nandroid backup) – you will be able to restore the same if you won’t like the CM11 M8 Android 4.4.4 KitKat firmware.

A computer, laptop or notebook must be used because you need to download a few files on the same – of course, then a connection between your PC and your smartphone will have to be established in order to continue the update process (thus the phone’s USB cord must be near you).

It is recommended to deactivate the security programs from your computer and to enable the USB debugging option (from “menu – settings – developer options”) on your Droid Razr.

Also, the best will be to plug in the charger before doing anything else (do that especially if the battery power shows less than 50% power left). If your phone gets turned off while you are flashing CM11 firmware, it might also get bricked.

Complete this tutorial only if you own the Motorola Droid Razr; the steps from below are compatible only with the mentioned device and with no similar model of the same.

You now need to transfer the files on your phone’s SD card; in order to do so, use the USB cord for connecting your device with your computer and then just copy-paste the update file and the Google apps package – in the end unplug the USB cord as the computer is no longer useful.

In the end, select “reboot system now” – if your phone will get stuck in a boot loop return to recovery from where choose “wipe data factory reset” and “wipe cache partition” once more.

That’s it; that’s how you can anytime install Android 4.4.4 KitKat CM 11 M8 custom ROM firmware on your Motorola Droid Razr. Run the software and test it in order to see if everything works as expected; of course, if possible, return here and use the comments field from below for sharing your experience with us and with our readers.